France Seeks to Guarantee Fuel Supplies as Unions Aim to Shut Down Nation

Oct. 18 (Bloomberg) -- France sought to guarantee fuel supplies as the countryâs oil refineries remained shut by strikers opposed to President Nicolas Sarkozyâs plans to raise the retirement age.

Parisâs airports are being supplied with jet fuel, and less than 2 percent of Franceâs service stations have run dry, Transport Minister Dominique Bussereau said on Europe1 radio.

The government said it wonât give in to union demands that it suspend parliamentary debate on the pension change, and negotiate a new bill that retains the minimum retirement age at 60. Unions have called for another day of protests, to be accompanied by the fourth national strike in two months, on Oct. 19, the day before the Senate is scheduled to complete passage of the bill.

âRaising the retirement age is the key to the financing of the system,â Prime Minister Francois Fillon said in an interview on TF1 television yesterday. âThe debate and vote in the Senate will go ahead.â

Gotta love this idea of rioting to try and cause national long-term bankruptcy. Don't they realize that if they don't allow reforms, they'll be getting 50 euros a month pension and eating tinned sardines for the last 20 years of their lives?

Gotta love this idea of rioting to try and cause national long-term bankruptcy. Don't they realize that if they don't allow reforms, they'll be getting 50 euros a month pension and eating tinned sardines for the last 20 years of their lives?

It's amazing that people feel they should be entitled to work part-time for all/most of their career (30 hrs/week + 6 weeks paid vacation), the be able to retire on someone else's nickel for 25-35 years at a middle-income.

It's amazing that people feel they should be entitled to work part-time for all/most of their career (30 hrs/week + 6 weeks paid vacation), the be able to retire on someone else's nickel for 25-35 years at a middle-income.